Dancing toy.



PATENTED APR. 17, 1906.

R. HELMER.

DANCING TOY.

APPLICATION FILED 8131221, 1905.

wiiimcas a:

UNITED STATES Specification of Letters Patent.

PATENT 1 OFFICE.

DANCING TOY.

Patented April 17, 1906.

Application filed September 21, 1905. SerialNo. 279,519-

To all whom it 1nrty concern: 7

Be it known that 1, ROBERT HELMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at-Hector, in the county of Renville and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Dancing Toys, ofwhich the ollowing is a specification.

This invention has relation to amusement devices, such as movable toys,which simulate the movements of dancers and acrobats,

for j arrin the platform to cause the figure tov dance an assume grotesue positions.

For a full description 0 the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand accompanyin drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions bychanges in the structure and minor details without de art'- ing from thespirit or essential features t ereof, still the preferred embodiment isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a dancing toy embodying invention. Fi 2 is a view of the same asseen from the un er side. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the toy onthe line a: :r of Fig. 2 lookin in the directions of the arrow. Fig. 4isa detail view of a portion of the toy and its spring-support.

Corresponding and like parts are referred tom the followin descriptionand indicated in all the views 0 the drawings by the same referencecharacters.

The figure 1 is provided with jointed limbs and may be of any design,according to the character of the toy. The support 2 consists,preferably, of a spring-wire sufiiciently stout to sustain the figurewithout interfering in the least with its free movements and which willsupplement the action of the vibrating or jarring mechanism by means ofwhich the toy is set in motion. The spring-wire 2 is curved, and itsupper ortion is bent downward, as shown at 3, t ence horizontally, as

indicated at 4, to provide an arm upon which the figure is looselymounted so as to freely oscillate. In the event of the figure being offlattened form, as when constructed of sheet material, it is providedwith a horizontal tube 5, through which the arm 4 passes, the projectingend of the arm being bent to retain the'figure in place, the bentportion 3 constituting an inner stop to limit the movement of the figuretoward the support. nicely balanced upon the supportin -arm 4, so as tomaintain a given position an yet admit of its free oscillation so as toadd materially to the grotesqueness of its actions. The platform 6 ispreferably of textile or like flexible sheet material and is stretchedover a framework, which in the present instance consists of a box orhollow base 7, having an opening in its top directly below the toy andover which thetextile material forming the plat-v form is stretched.

In the operation of the toy the platform is jarred or v1brated, therebycausing the figure to move up and down in rapid succession, thearticulation of its limbs and the loose mounting thereof upon thesupport adding to the variety of movement and grotesqueness of action.

The vibrating or agitating mechanism is arranged within the box andbeneath the platform and consists of a flat spring 8 and tappet-wheel 9,the spring 8 being secured atone end to the framework and provided atits opposite end with a knocker 10, arranged to come in contact with theplatform and impart a vibratory movement thereto. The tappet-wheel 9 isfast to a shaft 11, ournaled lengthwise of the framework and provided atits outer end with a crank 12 to be operated by hand. The tappet-wheel 9is provided around its periphery with spurs which successively engagewith the spring 8 in the rotation of the shaft 11 and cause said springto vibrate and the knocker 10 carried thereby to impart a correspondingmovement to the platform, whereby the toy has movement imparted thereto.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is I Adancing toy consisting of a box-like framework having an opening in itstop, a textile stretched over said opening and forming a platform, ajointed figure having a horizontal tube, a spring-support attached atone end to the framework andv having-its oppo- The figure is ICC siteend bent and. passed looselythrough said Wheel fast thereon and providedat its outer Io tube and provided with a sto at each end of end with anoperating-crank. v v i a the tube, a vibrating mee anism located Intestimony whereof I aflix my signature within the framework andcomprising a flat in presence of two witnesses.

5 spring secured at one end to the framework and having a knooker. atthe opposite end to V I ROBERT HELMER' come in contact with theaforesaid textile Witnesses: platform, a tappet-Wheel forcooperationwithHENRY NoBBs,

the spring, and a shaft having said tappet- RALPH PRESCOTT.

